She Owes $326,000 Across 21 Student Loans. Dave Ramsey Tells Her She Paid Five Times More Than She Should Have—'You Got Completely Screwed'

Core Insights - A 31-year-old single mother from Vermont, Hillary, is facing significant student debt of $326,000 from federal loans after becoming a pharmacist, despite earning $150,000 annually [2][3] - Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey criticized the high cost of her education, suggesting she overpaid significantly for her degree [3] - Ramsey advised her to prioritize debt repayment over retirement contributions, emphasizing the need to focus on eliminating student loans [4][5] Debt Situation - Hillary has 21 federal student loans and has already paid off $70,000 in private loans, but the federal loans have accrued interest during forbearance [2] - The total debt burden is substantial, with the potential for interest to increase further if not addressed [2] Financial Strategy - Ramsey recommended pausing retirement contributions to allocate more funds towards student loan repayment, suggesting a target of $75,000 annually [5] - He introduced the debt snowball method, which involves paying off the smallest loans first to gain momentum in reducing overall debt [6]